Police probing ‘categorically false’ statements on incident at Clementi block

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating the spread of “categorically false” online statements over an incident at a public housing block in Clementi.

In a statement on Saturday (March 20), the police said that they were aware of various falsehoods circulating online in relation to the incident on Wednesday morning at Block 309 Clementi Avenue 4.

Around 8.05am that day, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force were called to the scene, where a 38-year-old Caucasian man had locked himself in a housing unit.

The man was uncooperative and assessed to pose a danger to himself.

Police officers entered the unit at about 12.20pm and later arrested the man under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act.

The man, who was not named in the statement, is being investigated for suspected consumption of controlled drugs. 

Various falsehoods relating to the incident have been making their rounds on the internet and messaging applications, alleging that an array of firearms and 20kg of drugs were seized.

There were also claims that several Malays and Indians were arrested, and one of them tried to avoid arrest by jumping down the block.

“These statements are categorically false,” the police said.

“The police would like to clarify as follows: No firearms or narcotics were seized during the incident; only one person was arrested — the 38-year-old Caucasian man; the Caucasian man is not a drug trafficker; and no person had attempted to evade arrest by jumping down the block.”

Under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, any person who transmits or causes the transmission of a message with the knowledge that it is false or fabricated could face a fine of up to S$10,000 or a jail term of up to three years, or both.

The police said that they would not hesitate to act against anyone who transmits or communicates falsehoods.

“Members of the public are advised to refer to official sources for information and to avoid spreading unverified information or false rumours, as these may cause fear and unnecessary public alarm.”